Moeve and Honeywell Expand Strategic Alliance for Biodegradable Detergents

Moeve and Honeywell today announced an expanded collaboration to scale up production technologies of bio-based Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), the raw material for making LAS (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate), the main surfactant in the production of commonly used household detergents. This initiative combines advanced process innovation with next-generation surfactant development to address growing industry and consumer demand while promoting environmental sustainability.

Moeve’s NextLAB-R, the first LAB produced at an industrial scale using renewable raw materials, will be made available to the market through Honeywell’s licensing platform, providing detergent manufacturers with a more sustainable raw material solution. The expanded agreement also adds joint process development and renewable LAB to Honeywell UOP’s licensing portfolio, underscoring both companies’ commitment to innovation and sustainability for LAB producers worldwide.

“Honeywell has a rich history of innovation in detergent technologies, meeting the need for effective and environmentally friendly products,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, president of Honeywell UOP. “By collaborating with Moeve, we are offering detergent manufacturers a new generation of lower-carbon, high-performance solutions.”

“NextLAB-R proves that a more sustainable LAB can be produced industrially without compromising on performance,” said José María Solana, CEO of Moeve Chemicals. “This agreement marks a new chapter in our long-standing relationship with Honeywell. It reflects not only technical excellence, but also a shared ambition to make more sustainable chemical technologies a tangible industrial reality.”

Honeywell pioneered LAB process licensing in the 1960s, contributing to the evolution of more environmentally responsible detergent technologies. For over three decades, Moeve, the world's leading producer of LAB, and Honeywell have collaborated to advance energy-efficient LAB production technologies, including the Detal-Plus™ process that incorporates Honeywell UOP’s proprietary catalysts. Today, more than 70% of global biodegradable detergent production relies on LAB made using Honeywell UOP process technologies. This makes the transition to renewable alternatives like NextLAB-R not only timely, but essential.